News, notes from Putnam County
Taylor Douglas went out as chairman of the Putnam County Chamber of Commerce, but not without a mini-roast via a video.

News, Notes
EMMA guild meeting
EMMA Guild meetings continue for the 30th anniversary 2008-2009 concert season at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Southeast Branch Library, 6670 US 1 South. It is also the guild's 20th anniversary, and new and established EMMA Guild members are encouraged to attend the meeting.

2 advance to KOPS
TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) No. FL493 St. Augustine recently had a graduation ceremony for two members who achieved the goals their doctors set for them and are now members of KOPS (Keeping Off Pounds Sensibly).

SJRCC introduces customized courses
St. Johns River Community College is extending beyond its traditional offerings with a new series of non-credit training programs to assist small businesses or individuals in professional development. The Office of Continuing Education will offer customized mini courses for Microsoft Office Certification and Human Resource Management on the St. Augustine Campus. The courses to be offered are:

In 2009, 4-H is celebrating 100 years in Florida
St. Johns County 4-H alumni, families and friends are invited to kick off a year of celebration March 13 at the St. Johns County Agricultural Center as the Florida 4-H Youth Development Program celebrates its 100th year. Since 1909 the Florida 4-H Youth Development Program has been teaching youth to become community leaders with their head, heart, hands and health.

Presidential guests
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- St. Johns County Tax Collector Dennis W. Hollingsworth, CFC, and his wife Jan were guests of President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush at the White House this holiday season.

Durbin Creek plans family event
Durbin Creek Cares "Snow" Much: The Durbin Creek Elementary PTO is planning a special family event from noon to 3 p.m. Jan. 31 at the school, 4100 Race Track Road. Durbin Creek Cares "Snow" Much will include more than three tons of snow, an ice toboggan, a chili cook-off among school faculty members, crafts and food.

Women Realtors set Monday mixer
The St. Augustine Chapter of Women's Council of Realtors will host its monthly mixer from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday at the Mercedes Homes model located in the Olde Florida Subdivision, 113 Grafft Lane St. Augustine.

SAR honors heroes, installs officers
The St. Augustine Chapter of Sons of the American Revolution recently honored emergency personnel for their contributions to the community and installed officers for its 2009 season.

Still looking for the heart in latest Clarkson hit
File this one under "predictable": Kelly Clarkson has returned from her Persephone-like journey across the pop-goth River Styx on the excellent but disappointing album "My December" with a shiny, streamlined new cut meant to break the speed limit up the charts.

Go & Do
TODAY
* See dolphins: Marineland's Dolphin Conservation Center, www.marineland.net, features the antics of Tocoi, Aqe and Tomo -- three dolphin calves born there in June and July. The calves and their mothers (Betty, Dazzle and Roxy) provide visitors with an entertaining and educational look at these fascinating marine mammals. Marineland is at 9600 Oceanshore Blvd. (A1A South). Call 471-1111.

Testing for cataracts thanks to NASA
WASHINGTON -- Space shuttle science may soon come to an eye doctor near you: Researchers are using a NASA gadget to finally tell if a cataract is brewing before someone's vision clouds over.

Capital abuzz as Obama prepares to make history
WASHINGTON -- On the eve of his historic inauguration, Barack Obama on Monday previewed a theme of his address to the nation and world by asking Americans to take responsibility in their lives and perform service for others.

Future of abstinence-only funding is in limbo
NEW YORK -- With the exit of the Bush administration, critics of abstinence-only sex education will be making an aggressive push to cut off federal funding for what they consider an ineffective program.

Biden's wife spills the beans
WASHINGTON -- Joe Biden's wife said Monday that he had his pick of being Barack Obama's running mate or the secretary of state nomination that eventually went to Hillary Rodham Clinton, a slip that the vice president-elect immediately tried to shush.

Obama will dive into foreign policy
WASHINGTON -- President-elect Barack Obama will plunge into foreign policy on his first full day in office Wednesday, finally freed from the constraints of tradition that has forced him and his staff to remain muzzled about world affairs during the 78-day transition.

UAW leader: Deadline unrealistic
WASHINGTON -- United Auto Workers president Ron Gettelfinger suggested Monday that a mid-February deadline for General Motors and Chrysler to complete their restructuring plans may be "almost unattainable" and no formal talks had commenced between the union and car makers.

Why wait? D.C. parties early for the inauguration
WASHINGTON -- Forget the sold-out balls and A-list soirees: Ordinary Americans transformed Washington's streets into one giant pre-party Monday stretching from the overflowing inbound trains at Union Station to the banks of the iced-over Potomac.

'Anything is possible'
WASHINGTON -- Two days from the White House, President-elect Barack Obama joined a vast throng Sunday at a joyous pre-inauguration celebration staged among marble monuments to past heroes. "Anything is possible in America," declared the man who will confront economic crisis and two wars when he takes office.

Plane probe will last a year
NEW YORK -- The probe into the crash-landing of a US Airways jetliner will take a year, and the lessons learned from the spectacular accident will last much longer, a senior investigator said Monday.

Airliner's engines lost power simultaneously
NEW YORK -- A jetliner that crash-landed in the Hudson River had lost power simultaneously in both engines after reaching an altitude of only 3,200 feet, the plane's black box recorders revealed Sunday.

Study: Women less able to suppress hunger alert
WASHINGTON -- Faced with their favorite foods, women are less able than men to suppress their hunger, a discovery that may help explain the higher obesity rate for females, a new study suggests.

National report
Bush pardons former U.S. border agents
WASHINGTON -- In his final acts of clemency, President George W. Bush on Monday granted early prison releases to two former U.S. Border Patrol agents whose convictions for shooting a Mexican drug dealer fueled the national debate over illegal immigration.

Great expectations awaiting Obama
WASHINGTON -- Even as they express deep concern about the current direction of the country, Americans are overwhelmingly optimistic about Barack Obama and are pinning their hopes for recovery from a massive economic collapse on the president-elect, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

Public invited to watch inauguration downtown
The public is invited to be part of a grassroots gathering in downtown St. Augustine that starts at 11 this morning to watch Barack Obama's Inauguration ceremony as it is taking place in Washington, D.C.

Roadwork this week
The following roads in St. Johns County will be under construction this week:

MLK event stirred by Obama's swearing-in
The energy at this year's Commemorative Breakfast honoring civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. was greater than in recent years, sparked by the excitement of Barack Obama being sworn in as the nation's first African-American president.

Park names accepted
City Commissioners are taking public input to name a new park near the St. Augustine Lighthouse that includes a skate park, and one family wants it to be named after their late son who was an avid skater.

Teen faces strong armed robbery charge
A Ponte Vedra Beach teenager faces charges of strong armed robbery and possession of prescription medication without a prescription following a reported robbery Sunday, according to the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office.

Obama ceremony televised in Plaza
Residents can watch President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration Tuesday on a large-screen television in St. Augustine's downtown plaza.

New airport buildings coming
The St. Augustine-St. Johns County Airport Authority said this week that a new U.S. Customs facility on their property is nearing completion, and two other buildings -- a two-story public use building and a four-bay commercial aircraft hangar -- will be completed by the end of 2009.

Nicholas Benjamin Rogers
Nicholas Benjamin Rogers, 84, of St. Augustine, passed away at his home on Friday, Jan. 16, 2009. Arrangements are incomplete at this time but will be forthcoming from Watts Funeral Homes, Inc., San Mateo, Fla.

Natalie End
Natalie End, 63, of St. Augustine, passed away on Jan. 15, 2009. She was born in Sebring, Fla., and had resided in St. Augustine for the past 25 years. Memorial services will be held at 5 p.m. with a gathering from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009, at Old Town Villages Community Clubhouse, 2083 State Road 16 with the Rev. David Shokes officiating. In lieu of flowers, those wishing may make a donation to the American Cancer Society or the St. Augustine Humane Society.

Robert Lee Gay
Robert Lee Gay, 78, passed away after a long illness at the McGraw Hospice Center in Jacksonville.

Mrs. Audrey Kenney
Mrs. Audrey Kenney, 82, of 305 Loudoun Dr., St. Augustine, known affectionately by her children as 'Bird Woman,' passed away peacefully in her sleep on Friday, Jan, 16, 2009, at her home.

Natalie "Nan" End
Natalie "Nan" End, 63, of St. Augustine entered into rest Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009, at Flagler Hospital. She was born in Sebring, Fla., and had resided in St. Augustine most of her life. She had worked at Burton Electronics for more than 20 years.

Sandra "Sandy" Smith
Sandra "Sandy" Smith, 65, of St. Augustine, died on Jan. 17, 2009, at her residence surrounded by her family.

Sandra Smith
Sandra "Sandy" Smith, 65, of St. Augustine, died on Jan. 17, 2009, at her residence surrounded by her family.

Murder spree by people who refuse to ask for directions
In a front-page article on Jan. 2 of this year, The New York Times took a brief respite from its ongoing canonization of Barack Obama and returned to its series on violent crimes committed by returning GIs, or as I call it: "U.S. Military, Psycho Killers."

Obama may continue Bush policies
Except for Richard Nixon, no president since Harry Truman leaves office more unloved than George W. Bush. Truman's rehabilitation took decades. Bush's will come sooner. Indeed, it has already begun. The chief revisionist? Barack Obama.

Nothing to fear but no health care
Fifty million Americans are without health insurance, and 25 million are "underinsured." Millions being laid off will soon be added to those rolls. Medical bills cause more than half of personal bankruptcies in the U.S. Desperate for care, the under- and uninsured flock to emergency rooms, often dealing with problems that could have been prevented.

The ultimate Bush defense: No attacks
After eight contentious years as president and weeks of striving to claim a positive legacy, George W. Bush leaves the stage basing his case squarely on the absence of a second terrorist attack on American soil.

Worth Noting
In this space on Mondays, we will select a notable quote or two from a recent St. Augustine Record news story and some responses from the online comments section.

Letter: Post-9/11, Bush protected America
Two great presidents have led America in two different but similar wars in that they each protected the American people and freed millions of people. They cannot be compared in many other ways. World War II was a land-acquisition war. The Iraq war is a guerilla-type war. Both started with an attack on the United States of America, New York City and Hawaii later to become a state.

Police Reports
The following was compiled from police reports collected from the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office (SJCSO), St. Augustine Police Department (SAPD) and St. Augustine Beach Police Department (SABPD).

Police reports
The following was compiled from police reports collected from the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office (SJCSO), St. Augustine Police Department (SAPD) and St. Augustine Beach Police Department (SABPD):

Putting, grit go a long way for Johnson
HONOLULU -- Zach Johnson had to defend himself, a peculiar position for a guy who had just finished a two-week stay in Hawaii by playing his final six rounds in 30-under par and winning the Sony Open for the fifth victory of his career.

Aussie Open: Ivanovic, Roddick into 2nd round
MELBOURNE, Australia -- After struggling in her first match at the Australian Open since losing last year's final, Ana Ivanovic finished with a flourish in a 7-5, 6-3 win over Julia Goerges on Monday.

Local Watch 2
PGA Tour golfer Jeff Klauk (Nease) finished with a 7-under 273 Sunday at the Sony Open -- his first event as a full-fledged member of the PGA Tour.

NFL: Jets hire Ryan as coach; McGahee OK
NEW YORK -- Baltimore defensive coordinator Rex Ryan was hired as the coach of the New York Jets on Monday, a day after the Ravens lost in the AFC championship.

Local Watch
St. Augustine surfer Gabe Kling advanced to the quarterfinals before stalling out at the O'Neill Sebastian Inlet Pro presented by Ron Jon.

NASCAR notes: Riggs gets new ride
CONCORD, N.C. -- Scott Riggs will drive for the new Tommy Baldwin Racing team in the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup series. The 38-year-old Riggs, who drove last year with Haas CNC Racing, will be racing in his sixth Cup season.

NBA: Hornets, Hawks escape
NEW ORLEANS -- Chris Paul capped a 27-point performance with an off-balance 3-pointer as time expired, lifting the hobbled New Orleans Hornets to a 103-100 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Monday.

National: Flurry of baseball deals before arbitration
NEW YORK -- Nick Markakis reached a preliminary agreement on a $66 million, six-year contract with the Baltimore Orioles, and Ryan Madson struck a $12 million, three-year deal with the Philadelphia Phillies as players and teams rushed Monday to settle salary arbitration cases. A day before the scheduled exchange of proposed figures, teams announced contracts for 13 players and six more reached deals that weren't publicly confirmed by the clubs. Four prominent closers agreed to one-year deals: Bobby Jenks of the Chicago White Sox ($5.6 million), Huston Street of Colorado ($4.5 million), Kevin Gregg of the Chicago Cubs ($4.2 million) and Mike Gonzalez of Atlanta ($3.45 million).

NHL: Crosby back for Pens
PITTSBURGH -- Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 33 shots, Petr Sykora had a goal and an assist and the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the New York Rangers 3-0 on Sunday.

Magic's Howard has special seat
ORLANDO -- Dwight Howard took the phone call from someone on Barack Obama's staff, half-seriously wondering if a job offer was forthcoming.

An Unlikely Pair
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Ken Whisenhunt seemed to be a logical successor to Bill Cowher in Pittsburgh when the job came open two years ago. If not him, then certainly Russ Grimm.

CBB: N'western stops Minnesota
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Craig Moore hit six 3-pointers and finished with 22 points to lead Northwestern past No. 18 Minnesota 74-65 Sunday for its first win over a ranked opponent in nearly three years.

Local Watch
St. Augustine golfer Marcus Plunkett finished with a 9-over 153 total to place in a tie for fourth in last weekend's event on the Florida Junior Golf Tour. The tournament concluded Sunday at Gainesville Country Club. Plunkett was nine shots behind winner Taylor Hancock in the boys 13-15 age group. Matthew Plunkett finished with a two-day total of 22-over 166 and tied for 36th. Other local players included David Varga (177) and Nick Freeman (186). ...

Steady Steelers win AFC title
PITTSBURGH -- The Steelers outhit the Ravens and outplayed them behind a steady-as-he-goes Ben Roethlisberger, marching into the Super Bowl behind a defense that brought back memories of their storied Steel Curtain.

Local Watch 2
With a nice contribution from former Bartram Trail standout Steffi Sorensen, the No. 19 Florida women's basketball team defeated Georgia 61-45 Sunday. Sorensen hit 4-of-9 3-point attempts to finish with 12 points. She has now hit a 3-pointer in 14 consecutive games, the seventh longest streak in program history. The junior guard also had a team-high seven rebounds. ...

College hoops: UConn women rout UNC
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Renee Montgomery scored 21 points to help No. 1 Connecticut rout No. 2 North Carolina 88-58 on Monday night, dominating a matchup of unbeaten teams from start to finish. Maya Moore had 19 points and 12 rebounds for Connecticut (18-0), which turned one of the most anticipated games of the season into just another lopsided victory. Connecticut built a double-digit lead in the first half and led 46-30 at the break, then increased the margin against a deeper and supposedly more athletic opponent.

Fitzgerald's 3 TDs lift Cards
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Down and out for decades, the Arizona Cardinals have turned a bad joke into a Super Bowl-bound team.

National: Linehan declines offer from Niners
SAN FRANCISCO -- Scott Linehan declined the San Francisco 49ers' offer to become their offensive coordinator Sunday, saying he wasn't ready to commit to his next coaching move.

Women's Top 25: No. 3 Oklahoma wins
NORMAN, Okla. -- Danielle Robinson had 19 points and 10 assists and two other Sooners also had double-doubles as No. 3 Oklahoma led all the way in a 71-59 win over No. 8 Texas A&M on Sunday.

Accountant: Money manager owed $50M
SARASOTA -- Around the same time he mysteriously vanished, hedge fund manager Arthur G. Nadel owed a $50 million payout to some of the investors who had entrusted their life savings to him, an accountant said Monday.

No sign of Florida financier
SARASOTA -- In this quaint seaside community, Arthur G. Nadel was looked upon as a trusted and generous philanthropist.

World report
Confessions made at Gitmo court
GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba -- Two alleged orchestrators of the 2001 attacks on America casually declared their guilt on Monday in a messy and perhaps final session of the Guantanamo war crimes court.

Israel pulls out of Gaza; Hamas ceases fire
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip -- Israeli troops, some smiling and dancing, began to withdraw from Gaza Sunday after their government and Hamas militants declared an end to a three-week war. But neither side achieved long-term goals, and the burden of consolidating the fragile calm fell to world leaders.

Hamas seeks to restore order in Gaza
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip -- Uniformed Hamas security teams emerged on Gaza City's streets Monday as leaders of the Islamic militant group vowed to restore order in the shattered Palestinian territory after a three-week pummeling by the Israeli military.